Terminal strip



1 tus units.

Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TERMINAL STRIPApplication March 28, 1936, Serial No. 71,413

6 Claims.

This invention relates to terminal strips and more particularly to aterminal strip unit for dis tributing switchboard cable conductors amonglocal cables extending to apparatus units.

On apparatus frames of dial switching telephone systems it is customaryto lead in switchboard cables and to terminate the conductors thereofupon terminal strips from which the conductors of cables local to theframe may be extended to apparatus units. Heretofore, such terminalstrips have been of such a character that they occupied a large amountof mounting space and did not lend themselves readily to a unifiedsystematic distribution of wiring to the appara- In the development ofthe so-called cross-bar dial switching system it has, for the purpose ofeconomy, been considered desirable to so design all switching frames andrelay racks in such a manner that a maximum of assembly and wiringoperations could be carried out in the factory thus reducing materiallythe work of installation on specific projects.

It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide aterminal stripI unit which is compact in structure and economical tomanufacture and assemble on apparatus racks,

While the terminal strip unit in accordance with the presentinventionwas developed particularly for use in cross-bar dial systems, it is tobe understood that it is not limited :to use in such systems Abut is ofgeneral applicability to all types of systems where the expeditiousdistribution of electrical conductors is desired. The terminal stripunit is soy designed that it may be mounted on a relay mounting plate inthe space ordinarily provided for the mounting of a relay and is of suchconfiguration that it provides a well through which the switchboardcable may extend with the conductors thereof fanned out to the terminalsof the unit on the front or apparatus side of the rack. The local cablesare` then connected to the terminals of the units on the rear side ofthe rack. The units have the further advantage in that the over-al1thickness of the rack may be reduced thus saving valuable iloor space.

The terminal strip unit comprisesv a at mounting plate having integralears extending at right angles therefrom for attachment to the relayrack and two banks of terminal strips insulatedly attached in parallelrelation to the ends of the plate. One-half of each bank is disposed oneach face of the plate and each bank comprises a plurality of terminalstrips, each having a soldering lug on each end and separated from theadjacent'strips` by strips of insulating material. When assembled, theterminal strips unit is of substantially H shape, the sides of the Hbeing formed by the two banks of terminal strips and the mounting plateforming the cross-bar. v5- The free ends of the bank are much longer onone side of the mounting plate than on the other, thus affordingsufficient space between the two banks on the apparatus side of themounting rack to enable a switchboard cable to be run 10 therebetween,the conductors of which may then be fanned out and connected to theadjacent ends of the terminal strips.

Fora more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be madeto the accom- 15` panying detailed description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal view of a relay rack, partly in cross-section,showing one relay mounting plate with two terminal strip units mounted20 thereon;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on section line 2 2 of Fig. 1;and

' Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view taken on section line 3--3 of Fig.2.

The terminal strip unit is provided with a mounting plate I havingintegral ears 2 extending at right angles therefrom for attachment tothe relay mounting plate 3 by screws 4. Two banks of terminal strips 5and 6 are mounted respec- 30 tively on the ends of the mounting plate I.As most clearly disclosed in Fig. 1, each bank of strips is divided,one-half being positioned on each face of the plate I. As disclosed inFig. 3, each half of a bank comprises two gro-ups of 35 terminal strips,each group including two outside strips I of insulating material, forexample, of phenol liber, a plurality of metal terminal strips 8 andseparators 9 and I0 of insulating material which may also be of phenolfiber. The 4() terminal strips 8 are thus effectively insulated fromeach other by the separators 9 and Iii.

For securing the two halves of each bank to the opposite sides of themounting plate I, screws II are provided which extend through outermetal 45 clamping member I2, the insulating separator I3, strips 1 and8, insulating separators 9, I4 and I5, the plate I and through similarelements of the other half of the bank into a second clamping member I6.The screws II are eifectively 50 insulated from the terminalstrips 8 andplate I by the sleeves I 'I of insulating material.

In order that the longer free end of each bank may be held in more rigidassembly, a rivet or screw IB is provided which extends through an outerclamping washer I 9, strips 1 and 8 and insulating separators ID ofone-half of the bank, through separator 20 and through similar elementsof the other half of the bank into a second clamping washer 2l. Thescrew i8 is insulated from the terminal strips by the sleeve 22 ofinsulating material.

Each terminal strip 8 is provided with a soldering terminal on each endthereof, suitably tinned to enable conductors to be readily securedthereto, the soldering terminals of alternate strips being staggered asdisclosed in Fig. 2 in order that they may be more accessible for theconnection of conductors thereto.

The insulating strips 1 serve as guides for a cover (not shown) whichmay, if desired, be slipped over the terminal strip unit, the innersides of the cover engaging against the outer edges of the strip 1 andthe extensions 23 of the strips protecting the soldering terminals ofthe terminal strips 3 against a possible short circuit when the cover isbeing installed or removed. The cover may be of the general typedisclosed in Patent 1,343,880 granted June l5, 1920 to W. O. Beck.

One or more of the terminal strip units may be mounted on the usualrelay mounting plate 3 with the shorter soldering terminals of theterminal strips extending through slots 24 in the plate in the samemanner as the soldering terminals of the spring pile-ups of relay 25.The relay mounting plates 3 are suitably secured to the uprights 26 ofthe relay rack. Groups 21 of switchboard cables are run vertically onthe rack in the inside of the L-shaped uprights 26 and are held inposition by the supports 28 which are also secured to the uprights 26,the several cables of each group being turned to run horizontally acrossthe rack. One of these cables 29 is disclosed as extending through theWell formed between the terminal banks of terminal units with theconductors of the cable fanned out and connected to the soldering lugsof the terminal strips on the apparatus side of the rack. Local cablesSt are run vertically on the rear of the rack and the conductors thereofare connected to the soldering lugs of the terminal units and fanned outto relays or other apparatus mounted on the rack.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the terminal strip unit inaccordance with the present invention affords a simple compact means forwire distribution which enables the conservation of valuable space andrenders the economical assembly and installation of apparatus.

What is claimed is:

l. A terminal strip assembly comprising a mounting plate and two banksof terminal strips insulatedly attached near one end in parallelrelation to the ends of said plate, each of said banks comprising aplurality of terminal strips insulated from each other and each striphaving a soldering lug on each end thereof, the space between the longerends of said banks enabling the placement of a cable of wires forconnection to the adjacent ends of the strips of said banks.

2. A terminal strip assembly comprising a flat mounting plate havingintegral attachment ears extending at right angles therefrom and tWobanks of terminal strips insulatedly attached near one end in parallelrelation to the ends of said plate, one-half of each bank being disposedon each face of said plate, each of said banks comprising a plurality ofterminal strips insulated from each other and each striphaving asoldering lug on each end thereof, the space between the longer ends ofsaid banks enabling the placement of a cable of wires for connection tothe adjacent ends of said strips.

3. A terminal strip assembly comprising a mounting plate, two banks ofterminal strips insulatedly attached near one end in parallel relationto the ends of said plate, one-half of each bank being disposed on eachface of said plate, each of said banks comprising a plurality ofterminal strips insulated from each other and each strip having asoldering lug on each end thereof, and means extending through thelonger ends of each bank and insulated from the terminal strips thereoffor holding the free ends of the terminal strips rigidly in assembledposition.

4. A terminal strip assembly comprising a mounting plate, two banks ofterminal strips insulatedly attached near one end in parallel relationto the ends of said plate, one-half of each bank being disposed on eachface of said plate, each of said banks comprising a plurality ofterminal strips insulated from each other and each strip having asoldering lug on each end thereof and a rivet extending through thelonger end of each bank and insulated from the terminal strips thereoffor holding the free ends of the terminal strips rigidly in assembledposition.

5. A terminal strip assembly comprising a mounting plate and two banksof terminal strips insulatedly attached near one end in parallelrelation to the ends of said plate, each of said banks comprising aplurality of terminal strips insulated from each other, each striphaving a` soldering lug on each end thereof, and a plurality ofinsulating members extending laterally beyond said strips and serving asguides for a cover to enclose said assembly, the space between thelonger ends of said banks enabling the placement of a cable of wires forconnection to the adjacent ends of the strips of said banks.

6. A terminal strip assembly comprising a mounting plate and two banksof terminal strips insulatedly attached near one end in parallelrelation to the ends of said plate, one half of each bank being disposedon each face of said plate, each of said banks comprising a plurality ofterminal strips insulated from each other, each strip having a solderinglug on each end thereof, and a plurality of insulating members extendinglaterally beyond said strips and serv ing as guides for a cover toenclose said assembly, the space between the longer ends of said banksenabling the placement of a cable of wires for connection to theadjacent ends of the strips of said banks.

WOLFE W. BROWN.

